Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Weizmann, Chaim

(Encyclopedia)Weizmann, Chaim khīmˈ vītsˈmän [key], 1874–1952, scientist and Zionist leader, first president (1948–52) of Israel, b. Russia, grad. Univ. of Freiburg, 1899. He lectured in chemistry at the U...

Yankee

(Encyclopedia)Yankee, term used by Americans generally in reference to a native of New England and by non-Americans, especially the British, in reference to an American of any section. The word is most likely from ...

Angren

(Encyclopedia)Angren ən-gryĕnˈ [key], city (1989 pop. 131,970), in the Tashkent region, Uzbekistan. The largest lignite-mining center in Central Asia, it was developed during and after World War II. ...

Lettow-Vorbeck, Paul von

(Encyclopedia)Lettow-Vorbeck, Paul von poul fən lĕtˈō-fôrˈbĕk [key], 1870–1964, German general. In World War I he conducted a brilliant defense of German East Africa against vastly superior Allied power. ...

Pleasant Hill

(Encyclopedia)Pleasant Hill, residential city (1990 pop. 31,585), Contra Costa co., W Calif.; inc. 1961. First settled in 1844, the area remained rural until the housing boom of World War II. Electronic equipment i...

Howard, Roy Wilson

(Encyclopedia)Howard, Roy Wilson, 1883–1964, American newspaper publisher, b. Gano, Ohio. He became New York manager of the United Press (UP) in 1907. During World War I, as president and general manager of UP, H...

Preston, Lewis Thompson

(Encyclopedia)Preston, Lewis Thompson, 1926–95, American financial executive, b. New York City. After serving as a U.S. Marine during World War II and graduating from Harvard (1951), he joined J. P. Morgan. He be...

Pulkovo

(Encyclopedia)Pulkovo po͞olˈkəvə [key], astronomical observatory, S of St. Petersburg, NW Russia. Pulkovo was built (1834–39) under a commission headed by F. G. W. von Struve. In 1839 its 15-in. (38-cm) refra...

Donovan, William Joseph

(Encyclopedia)Donovan, William Joseph dŏnˈəvən [key], 1883–1959, U.S. lawyer and government official, b. Buffalo, N.Y., grad. Columbia law school. Distinguished service in World War I won him medals and the n...

Doriot, Jacques

(Encyclopedia)Doriot, Jacques zhäk dôryōˈ [key], 1888–1945?, French collaborator during the German occupation of France in World War II. For many years he served as the mayor of Saint-Denis, a Paris suburb. H...

Browse by Subject